The University of Arizona baseball team (3-9) fell to Grand Canyon University (6-7) 7-5 on Tuesday, March 3 at Hi Corbett Field, despite delivering their second consecutive game with double-digit hits.
Game recap
First baseman Tony Lira continued to shoulder the offense, going 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI single. In relief, Matthew Martinez and Maclain Roberts combined for seven strikeouts and no runs across four innings, highlighting the Wildcats’ depth in the bullpen.
Arizona got on the board quickly in the bottom of the first. Caleb Danzeisen reached base on a walk and advanced to third on a Nate Novitske single before Lira drove him home with a single, giving the Wildcats an early lead. Grand Canyon responded just as fast in the next frame, with Tanner Johns and Camden Batters stringing together hits to tie the game, and Jake Sanko putting Grand Canyon ahead 2-1. The Wildcats left two runners stranded in the bottom of the second.
Pitching changes marked the third inning as Jack Lafflam replaced Collin McKinney for Arizona, but both struggled. Grand Canyon capitalized with RBI singles from Johns and Sanders, which extended their lead to 4-1. The Wildcats narrowed the deficit in their half of the third, with Lira doubling to left center and later scoring on a sacrifice fly.
Momentum shifted in the fourth as Maclain Roberts retired the side in order, and Arizona’s offense surged. Novitske’s infield single brought home Sylvester and Brennan, tying the game, and Lira followed with another base hit. Martinez took over in the sixth where he struck out three. Both teams’ offenses then cooled which kept the score knotted at 4-4 entering the ninth.
In the top of the ninth, Grand Canyon capitalized on Wildcats’ errors with Roman Meyers’ miscue allowing Nielsen to score and Sanko to advance. Despite bringing in Garrett Hicks, Arizona couldn’t escape the jam, and Cannon Peery’s double drove in two more runs, pushing the Grand Canyon lead to 7-4.
The Wildcats mounted a final rally in the bottom of the ninth. Jackson Forbes, pinch hitting for TJ Adams, launched a home run to right field to cut the deficit to two. Danzeisen drew a walk, putting the tying run at the plate, but Lira’s fly ball to left field ended Arizona’s hopes of a comeback.
Looking forward
Arizona baseball will remain at home this weekend to take on California State University, Fresno in a three game series on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
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